Author Notes: Hello again, everyone! Enjoy this next chapter :)
Beta: JeanGirlMY
- Chapter Start -
Twenty four hour earlier...
Jiang Cheng wasn't a nervous wreck.
Just because he hadn't slept well in the past week and had been at the training field long past midnight didn't mean he was nervous. He hadn't noticed the training dummy had long since disintegrated into a pile of straw on the ground, and had looked like an idiot, slashing away at thin air, but he wasn't nervous.
And just because he had decided to patrol the front walkways in the very early mornings didn't mean he was nervous. He hadn't noticed - twice - that he had reached the end of the pier, and had looked like a fool, windmilling his arms to avoid an accidental soaking, but he wasn't nervous!
He was... distracted. Like any groom-to-be would.
According to Nie HuaiSang, Sect Leader Nie had been distracted that time too, driving his younger brother up the wall with his constant daytime pacing and nighttime tossing and turning - wait, what did Nie MingJue have to do with his sworn brothers' wedding?
"WanYin, you're up early."
Jiang Cheng spun around to see Head Disciple Jiang Long standing there. He had long insisted that they dispense with formality when they were alone since Jiang Long was his cousin and eight years his senior.
"Long-ge," he greeted and got a warm smile in return.
"Couldn't sleep?"
Jiang Cheng narrowed his eyes in suspicion, but Jiang Long just looked concerned so he sighed and shook his head. The two of them looked out at the still waters of the lake, the sky in the east just beginning to lighten.
"I was nervous about my wedding night too," Jiang Long offered.
Jiang Cheng darted another suspicious look at him and got a wry smile in return.
"Don't worry. Everyone gets nervous before their big day. On the one hand, I had two older brothers to advise me," Jiang Long's smile turned wistful for a moment and then he rolled his eyes, "but on the other, half of what they said turned out to be utter rubbish!"
Jiang Cheng's lips quirked when he recalled how irrepressible those two had been. Both had perished in the same attack that took their parents' lives. Licking his dry lips, he inched closer to Jiang Long and darted a quick glance around.
"Such as?"
"They said it was extremely painful for both parties, but perseverance was key and not to give up."
Jiang Cheng inhaled sharply. So Wei WuXian was right!
"Can you believe that?" Jiang Long chuckled, shaking his head.
Jiang Cheng blinked.
"Wait. So it's not true?" He blurted out and cringed when Jiang Long stared at him, eyebrows well up.
"No, WanYin! Well, not for the groom..."
Jiang Cheng knew a moment of profound relief.
"... but for the bride..."
His nerves suffered another jolt.
"... if not done right."
Jiang Cheng stared at him. Jiang Long stared back. Taking another step closer, Jiang Cheng cleared his throat, ignoring the heat rising in his face.
"So, how is it uh, done right then?"
It was Jiang Long's turn to blink.
"WanYin, didn't you attend the Gusu lectures with other young masters three years ago? You can't tell me, even in such a strict environment, that there was no opportunity for hot blooded young men to talk about, you know, dual cultivation?"
Jiang Cheng felt his face burn hotter. He cleared his throat again.
"Uh, Nie HuaiSang did share some of his collection of erotic picture books with Wei WuXian. I uh, may have taken a look or two."
"Well then. There you go-"
"They were all about men! Cut-sleeves!"
"Ah. In that case, do you want a bit of advice from a married man with two young sons?"
"Yes!"
- o -
Early the next morning, a more enlightened Jiang Cheng made his way to the Ancestral Hall as usual.
Three years ago, it was less a greeting to his late parents than a compulsive urge to prove himself to them, to assure them he was living up to the legacy they had left him. He would report every bit of progress made that day, however little, however minor. Like putting up the biggest supporting pillar in the living room, or repainting the lotus chair Jiang FengMian used to sit in, or repairing the numerous walkways, or recruiting more disciples.
Each update would inevitably end up with really ugly crying and a vow to do better before staggering back to his room and sleeping like the dead, sometimes without dinner, more often than not without a bath.
It was unfair; the Lans seemed to have mastered the art of shedding tears and not snot, remaining beautiful with tear drenched eyes and a dry nose. And A-Jie, of course; she was always beautiful.
Life was unfair.
Even Wei WuXian didn't look half as bad as Jiang Cheng did when he cried.
Life was very much unfair.
But time healed all wounds. Jiang Cheng had no idea who said that - he might punch them in the face if he did - but they were right. Sort of. A little.
He changed his nighttime visits to morning ones before he started his day. The visits were much shorter unless there were notable announcements to make... like a rundown of A-Jie's wedding to the peacock and her subsequent pregnancy (Jiang Cheng couldn't wait to spoil his nephew or niece!), finding out about Wei WuXian's sacrifice, him destroying the Tiger Seal and somehow getting a new golden core out of it (Jiang Cheng played a big part in that), and his subsequent wedding to HanGuang Jun. And most importantly, Jiang Cheng's upcoming wedding to Wen Qing.
On quiet days, after lighting three incense sticks and bowing, he would leave the hall dry eyed, mind already buzzing with all the things he had to do today. This morning, he stayed a little longer, wanting to chat a bit even if he had never chatted with his parents while they were alive.
"A-Die, A-Niang, today's the day. A-Qing and I will bow to you in a few hours and become husband and wife. We seek your blessings for a long and happy life together. Did A-Jie tell you how much she was looking forward to combing my hair last night? Well, she did. She had also combed Wei WuXian and Jin GuangYao's hair before their weddings. They had cried like babies then! As for me..."
He trailed off, goose bumps prickling all over at how he had broken down last night, a fact not helped by Wei WuXian who had cried as much as he had while HanGuang Jun and the peacock had done their best to impersonate statues. Very uncomfortable looking statues with reddened eyes.
"Anyway! I'm sure A-Jie will come by as soon as she's up. She'll tell you all about it. I'd better go make sure there's porridge waiting for her. The peacock says she eats six meals a day now. Well, he can afford it. Wei WuXian will drop by too once he wakes up although he's going back to Yiling after that to check on A-Qing. Said he had a promise to keep."
Jiang Cheng fell silent again, lips tilting downward when he recalled his old requirements for a wife. A-Qing met some of them - her cultivation was lower than his, she was naturally beautiful, she was economical, but it didn't matter. He only cared that she loved him and was willing to share the rest of her life with him.
"I'm the luckiest man in the world," he vowed and he meant every word.
When he left the hall, it was almost dawn. The banners and streamers that had lined the gates and front walkway for the past week were still dark shapes for now, but they were auspicious ones of crimson and gold with the lotus flower predominantly displayed. Lotus Pier would look resplendent in the bright sunlight.
Jiang Cheng had told Jiang Long that the decorations were an unnecessary expense, but the older man had insisted. Jiang Cheng was glad he had. He wanted Lotus Pier to welcome her new mistress. His people loved her already. He couldn't wait to see her again, all dressed in bridal finery. He couldn't wait to bow with her, to be married to her. He couldn't wait to welcome her into his life, his home and his bed and do... well, married people things with her. You know, dual cultivation.
His face burned anew at what Jiang Long had told him yesterday.
Regardless, it was time to go over any urgent matters and then he would need to get washed up and dressed. He had a journey to make to Yiling and a bride to bring home.
"Wei WuXian had better be back in two hours," he muttered to himself. He wanted to fetch Wen Qing with his brother and sister by his side.
- o -
The bridegroom and his entourage arrived at Yiling around mid morning, the disciples holding crimson banners and flags with auspicious sayings. The group was made up of disciples from Yunmeng Jiang, Gusu Lan thanks to HanGuang Jun, Lanling Jin thanks to Sect Leader Jin and his wife, and even QingHe Nie.
Although not affiliated with the Jiangs, Nie MingJue and Nie HuaiSang had turned up at Lotus Pier just before breakfast and insisted on joining in the fun instead of waiting at Lotus Pier for the celebrations to start.
The large crowd of people waiting in the grounds of the largest inn in Yiling set up a rousing cheer when the group flew in to land. Even the Yiling townspeople had turned up, milling outside the compound.
After warm greetings and bows were exchanged together with large grins, Fourth and Sixth Uncles stepped forward, having appointed themselves as testers of the groom's worth with Chen-yishi's blessings.
"After all, Sect Leader Jiang," Fourth Uncle intoned, "Lady Wen is a real treasure. Young, beautiful and a very skilled healer."
"I agree," Jiang Cheng said solemnly. He knew Wen Qing was in the largest room upstairs and could hear every word spoken. He didn't have to look up to know she was peeping out the window at them right this minute.
"She is also brave, loyal and kind," Sixth Uncle added. "Yunmeng Jiang is very lucky to have her as their mistress."
"I know," Jiang Cheng said, sweating a bit under his heavy robes.
In the end, the three challenges turned out to be everything and nothing he had feared.
First, a dozen black and white feathered chickens were let loose within the inn's compound and had to be caught and returned to a large basket. A laughing Nie HuaiSang tapped Jiang Cheng on the arm with his fan and reminded him of how they and Wei WuXian had tried to catch a similar fowl at Dafan Mountain because they were hungry. His chuckles turned to dismay when Jiang Cheng immediately delegated the challenge to him with help of the Jiang disciples.
Next, a large plate of pickled chili peppers were uncovered with the instructions that they had to be consumed without the aid of rice, water or tea. Jiang Cheng delegated the task to Wei WuXian who blinked before grinning and accepting.
The final challenge was playing six love songs to serenade the bride. HanGuang Jun graciously nodded when Wei WuXian turned to him with puppy dog eyes.
As the challenges were carried out, the others sat on benches or on chairs placed in the shade of the inn's veranda and enjoyed the show. A red faced Nie HuaiSang staggered past them inside the inn, panting curses at a fleeing chicken while Wei WuXian paced up and down as he chewed, eyes watering a bit after his fifth pepper. HanGuang Jun kept a close eye on him as he went through one song after another on his guzhin.
Looking up, Jiang Cheng caught sight of a slender figure in crimson framed by the large window and flanked by Granny Wen and Wen Ning. Wen Qing's face was obscured by a translucent red silk and Jiang Cheng could see the outline of red smiling lips. He blew her a kiss and saw that smile widen in response.
It took almost an hour for all three challenges to be completed. As Wei WuXian cooled his mouth and throat with a pot of tea and gave occasional belches, Nie HuaiSang collapsed in a chair, fanned his face and groaned about needing a bath.
Everyone was taken aback when A-Yuan marched up to Jiang Cheng.
"Angry-gege, I want you to give Qing-Jiejie a kiss!"
There was hearty laughter all around as a red faced Jiang Cheng protested that he couldn't do that since the bride was wearing a veil.
Seeing A-Yuan stick out his lower lip, Master Lan hastily intervened, stating that unmarried couples weren't allowed to kiss. To his discomfiture, several raised eyebrows were directed at him and Sisi, who giggled and poked him in the side. Master Lan turned red, the Twin Jades pointedly looked down at their cups of tea and Chen-yishi chuckled. Wei WuXian laughed so hard he started hiccuping.
The Wens declared that Jiang Cheng had passed the tests and was allowed to go upstairs to retrieve his bride. Jiang Long went with him, carrying small pouches of money to 'bribe' the bride's family into opening the door for them.
Meanwhile, the inn's owner and his wife distributed packets of food to the townspeople of Yiling as part of the celebration, sponsored by Lotus Pier.
The bride and groom soon made their triumphant appearance to even more cheers. It wasn't long before a line of carriages began their journey to Lotus Pier. Flying before them were the bride and groom-to-be, accompanied by Wei WuXian, HanGuang Jun, the other Jiang disciples, and Sect Leaders Lan, Jin and Nie.
- Chapter End -
A/N: Thank you for reading! In modern Chinese weddings, the groom is often presented with challenges by the bride's friends or family to prove himself worthy of her. I thought it would be fun for JC to experience something similar. Luckily for him, family and friends chipped in to help! Please leave a review if you enjoyed it and take care :)
